Chapter 4
Galadon
As I flew near the Faegud jakhal, I noted two burnt orange dragons on patrol. One look at them told me they couldn’t shift. Usually, that meant they were less than a quarter human, and the rest of their lineage was full dragon blood. They had to have at least a tenth, or they would be green—at least in this region. High in the mountains, they’d likely be gray, and water dragons were typically varying shades of blue.
It should have been difficult for me to shift, but somehow, both sides were stronger than expected. My beast form was unusually large for a shifter, yet I could change to my human body with little trouble like now. Until more recent years, though, I preferred to live as a dragon.
The two guards beat their wings hard to fly out of my way, proving wise enough not to challenge me. After a few more minutes, I found the scorched circle for the landing area and set down. Formations of rocks were all around the open area in intricate designs. Each one paid homage to the Faegud clan’s worship of the dragon goddess, Zorya, and had some significant meaning. Some were for protection, some for strength, and a few were for fertility. While I had only been in the toriq for a little less than six years, and nothing had changed in that time, I’d heard some of the rock formations had been there for thousands of years.
As I allowed my flames to consume me, I noticed several nearby dragons quickly finding somewhere else to go. It never made sense to me why I repelled most everyone—human or dragon—but it had been that way since shortly before my mother took me away from her toriq, and that was part of why she had to rush me far away. Even when I put effort into lessening the effect, everyone trembled near me.
Some days, it felt like a curse, but I found it to be a gift at other times. I could only stand most dragons and people for short periods, and sometimes not at all. Most were quite annoying, with only the rare exception. Perhaps it came from living alone most of my life and lacking social skills.
As I emerged from my shift, I drew a set of black pants and a tunic from shiggara —a sort of pocket dimension where we could store a few items. The camrium garments and boots I donned were the preferred cloth of shifters. It was harvested from the sude camria plant, treated, and spelled with magic, so it was fireproof and acted as light armor for protection. Humans often described it as having a leather-like appearance when designed as battle garb, but it depended on the process. Most casual clothing was soft and pliable, with more color variations.
I looked around and noticed no one remained among the worshipping stones. They’d all fled. Several paths led from the open area, but I chose the widest. Moving in swift, long strides, I made my way quickly through the Jakhal.
Newer stone buildings dotted the place since they’d repurposed many of the bunker stones to create homes and shops for the humans and any shifters who preferred living above ground. Like my mother’s house, they were all slate gray. Smoke rose from their chimneys as they kept the fires burning to warm their homes as sunset and cooler temperatures approached. There were still numerous tunnel entrances along the way since most Faegud still favored dens beneath the earth.
Spotting a warrior ahead whose back was to me, I surged forward to grab him and spin him to face me. “Where is Lorcan?”
“Wha-a-t?” he asked, amber eyes filling with fear.
He was one of the toriq’s elite fighters and battled valiantly during the last war, fending off the Kandoran. It was unfortunate that he wasn’t immune to my intimidating charm. The only ones who appeared capable of pushing past it were those who were around me frequently, slayers, and idiot bullies who lacked common sense. I ran into those upon occasion, which made life more interesting.
“Where is Lorcan?” I repeated in a calmer tone.
He swallowed. “I, uh…”
Maybe if you let him go and give him some space, he can answer you, said a soft female voice in my head.
I glanced toward her, where she crouched about ten feet away, which muted some of my effect. It was Felienne. She was the only Faegud I’d ever been intimate with, though that had been nearly two centuries ago. Her family had tried to arrange a mating for her that she didn’t want, so she flew to my territory and begged for sanctuary. I’d been lonely then and hadn’t minded the company. She was typically submissive and quiet, which suited me, and she’d kept her distance at first in one of my numerous tunnel dwellings.
It didn’t take too long before she overcame her fear and showed interest. Since I was an isolated male with needs, and she was a beautiful dragon, I didn’t try to resist her. She couldn’t shift, but I’d never been with a female in human form at that point anyway.
It lasted about a month. Then, I caught her doing something intolerable. I forced her to leave that day and avoided her ever since. She wasn’t a warrior, so thankfully, I’d never seen her during the war.
I let go of the male I held, who promptly escaped, and narrowed my gaze on her. “Do you know where Lorcan is?”
The training field, she replied, then cocked her head. Is it true that you copulated with one of the slayers during the Kandoran war?
I worked my jaw. After our intimate time together, a few shifters and dragons had caught my scent intermingled with Rayna’s. I hadn’t thought that part through when I seduced her and failed to consider washing alone wouldn’t have rid me of her unique fragrance right away, especially not without a heated bath and scented soap. Something hard to find amid a war. Word had spread rapidly, though few were brave enough to bring up the topic.
“Yes,” I replied, baring my teeth.
Felienne trembled. So brave of you, but you would not give her a child, would you?
I blanched at the very thought. The idea had not occurred to me except to use special herbs, so such an occurrence didn’t happen. That was a matter of habit since I did not want to risk having hatchlings I didn’t know about and would have no hand in raising. Few females could stand being near me for long, so I had no illusions on the matter. I’d undoubtedly die without progeny.
“No, of course not,” I said.
She relaxed a little. That is good. If you ever decide you wish for a hatchling, I would be happy to give you one.
Felienne was likely the most beautiful and submissive dragon I’d ever met. Though I’d been angry with her at the end of our short relationship, I harbored no long-term ill feelings toward her. She’d read the situation wrong with me, and I wasn’t exactly known as the best at communicating.
Still, my body didn’t respond to her shapely form anymore. Thanks to that damn slayer, no one else interested me. Thoughts of Rayna’s incredible human curves consumed me each dawn when I laid down to rest, and I tossed and turned with memories of her before finally claiming sleep. At some point, I had to get over her and find a more suitable dragon, but not yet. The last meeting with her remained too fresh.
“Thank you,” I said, dipping my chin. “But I am not interested in such a match at this time.”
Before she could argue her case further, I hurried away toward the training field. Humans and dragons darted out of my way as I barreled down the path with a scowl on my face. The walkway narrowed at one point where a human man crouched where he’d dropped several parcels and attempted to regather them. He took one look at me and froze. I leaned down, grabbed the brown boxes, and shoved them into his arms. As he stood gaping, I gave him a nudge to move since he blocked my way.
“Thank you,” he said in a whisper and scurried in the opposite direction I headed.
There were days like today when I wished no one noticed me at all.
I finally reached the large open area where shifters could practice their battle skills in human or dragon form. A couple of pairs brawled off to the left, sinking sharp teeth and claws into each other. Lorcan fought in the middle. The shifter male stood tall in his black camrium garb that fit closely to his body. His shoulder-length brown hair was damp with sweat, and amusement lit his orange eyes as he easily parried a sword blow. While he wasn’t as large and muscular as some, he was still among the best warriors in the toriq, using his swiftness and agility to his benefit.
In less than two minutes, Lorcan had his bulkier opponent on the ground with his blade tip at his throat. “Excellent job. You held out longer than last week.”
The former pendragon’s son pulled the sword away.
As the defeated male shifter walked off the field, I replaced him, drawing my weapon from shiggara.
“Care for a better challenge?” I asked.
“Of course,” Lorcan said, hands shaking a little. He drew a few calming breaths and managed to stop the tremors. Since his mother was the previous pendragon, she’d often sent him to deal with me, so he’d had to learn control around me. In less than a minute, he stood strong and proud once more.
“We will start with an easy warm-up,” I suggested.
We’d practiced together many times before the war and developed a routine for moving through different strikes and parries that were unique to our style. At this point, we could have done it with our eyes closed, but it helped him ground himself in my presence, and it also calmed some of the inner rage I always felt. Otherwise, I would attack too strongly, ending the fight before it truly began. While I preferred to fight in my dragon form, I also worked hard to excel with a weapon. It was essential to be versatile.
Lorcan met and held my gaze. “The naming ceremony for the bitkal is in nine days. The competition is two weeks after that. I will warn you that despite your…endearing personality…some think you’re the best choice to lead us. Even the pure dragons fear your wrath, which could keep our borders safer.”
“I have no interest in leading,” I said, striking his blade so hard it flew out of his hands. I grunted an apology since that was not my intention for our warmup, and I usually had more control. Perhaps our conversation was getting under my skin more than I realized.
Lorcan regained his weapon and returned. “I know, but I want you to consider it, at the very least. You are the only person in our toriq who is guaranteed to win if they compete.”
We resumed our swordplay.
“I believe you would be the best for such a duty—not me,” I replied, meaning it.
His mother had groomed him well for the position, and he was already a father with a second child coming soon. Becoming a parent had helped settle and mature him so that he considered the future of their people and all shifters more carefully.
Though his children would spend their early years with their mothers who lived with the Taugud up north, they would eventually take turns visiting their father’s land, and perhaps they’d subsequently choose to live with him. The Faegud desperately needed more members like Lorcan to contribute to their population growth, even if I had no hope of such things for myself. We’d lost too many during the war and needed to replace them.
“There is one particular candidate I do not think I can defeat.” Lorcan sidestepped my lunge as we transitioned to more serious attacks. “Telarion is strong and known for cheating if he thinks he might lose. Unfortunately, he is also good at hiding his deceit, so it’s difficult to prove.”
Galadon had heard of the male in question, though he’d only seen him in passing twice.
“I will be there to prevent such a thing from occurring,” I said, sweeping my leg out to kick the side of his knee. He fell to his rear, sending up a puff of dirt.
I smiled widely, unable to help myself.
Lorcan shot me a disgruntled look, always hating that trick of mine. “How does such a large man move that fast?”
I shrugged. “I’d have died long ago if I didn’t improve my speed. When I was only fifteen, three Ghastanan attacked while I was hunting for food. I defeated them by being fast and agile—and perhaps them underestimating a dragon my age and size.”
“I can only imagine,” he said, shaking his head. “I’m sorry you had to endure such a life.”
Holding out a hand, I helped him to his feet. “According to my mother, it was all for a higher purpose to make me stronger. Also, other reasons she won’t explain.”
Lorcan was one of the few with whom I’d grown comfortable enough to reveal a little about myself. Like his mother, he seemed to care about my well-being. I didn’t know why or how to handle it, but it made me feel a little less alone.
“Well, your superior skills certainly helped us immensely during the war. Just keep the bitkal in mind, and please don’t miss it. Even if you don’t compete, I’d appreciate you having my back when the competition begins. Aidan will be here to keep things equitable, but I still prefer an ally from my toriq as well.”
I gave him a feral grin. “Nothing would please me more than to assist you in a fair fight. If anyone attempts to cheat, they will answer to me.”
“That should keep most of them in line,” he said, shaking his head.
We resumed trading blows, and for a little while, I didn’t notice the stares at my back filled with loathing or fear. Lorcan was one of the few shifters who put me at ease, and I appreciated him more than ever for that. Perhaps I could even consider him a friend.